Typewriter



Aug. 20, 1940. f RS. REID 2,211,911

TYPEWRITER Filed Oct. 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jail P TYPEWRITER Filed001;. 11, 1937 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.20, 1940. 55 2,211,911

TYPEWRITER Filed on. 11, 1937 s Sheets- Sheet 3 JG. 5 ,q-

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 I rrrnwarrsa I Roswell S. Reid, Morgantown, W.Va., assignor to West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Conipany,Morgantown, W.

West Virginia Va,, a corporation of Application October 11, 1937, SerialNo. 168,494

6 Claims. (01. 191-84) o This invention relates to typewriters and moreparticularly to typewriters of the variable spacing type; this generalclass of machine being exemplified by the invention disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 157,964, filed August '7, 1937. o

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved typewriter of the character described; and more particularobjects include the provision of novel variable escapement mechanismsand also of novel electrically operated means for actuating theescapement to cause the appropriate movement of the carriage to takeplace upon the depression of a character key or a spacing bar.

Another object is to provide, in connection with such a typewriter,novel means for varying the operation of the electrically operatedescapement controlling device in accordance with the actua- Theinvention is equally adaptable to single and 35 double shiftingarrangements as will be more particularly shown hereinafterl Althoughnot specifically limited thereto, except as set forth in the appendedclaims, the present invention in its preferred embodiments is 30 welladapted for application to a typewriter of the kind described in thecopending application to which reference has been.made.

As distinguished from machines of the ordinary typenow in widespreaduse, wherein each printed letter-occupies the same amount of spacemeasured longitudinally of the printed line regardless of the widths ofthe letters, these typewriters .embody means for causing the carriagesthereof to move forwardly after each actuation of a type 40 bar, adistance proportional to the width of the character just printed; sothat the final appearance of the completed typewritten lineis similar tothat of a printed line; at least so far as the spacing of the letterstherein isconcerned. These 45 improved typwriting machines areparticularly useful in the preparation of typewritten sheets.

for subsequent employment in processes of printing which involves thetransfer by a photographic step of the typewritten matter from the paperto sheet to an element to be'used in the actual-printing operation, suchas for example in any one of various offset or planographic printingmethods.

These variable spacing machines in which'the.

present invention is preferably embodied comtion of the carriageshifting mechanism to effect prise in addition to the usual type bars.an on,-

gitudinally movable paper holding carriage, mechanism which isresponsive to the actuation of the type bars for effecting advancementof the carriage variable distances,- the distance advanced by thecarriage after the actuation of ally 6 type bar being proportional tothe width of the letter imprinted on the paper sheet. It will beunderstood, of course, that the type elementsare not aifixed to the typecarrying bars in the eonventional manner now employed in; typewriter 10manuafcture, i. e., so that the various type elements are-centered uponthe type carrying bars; but on the other hand, are so arranged that theleft hand edge of each letter would strike the paper at the sameidentical point if the carriage I were not moved between impressions.

While the individual units which go to make up a font of printer'stype'may be made in a large number of different widths, they may beconveniently classified according to width into five groups, rangingfrom a relatively small group, containing a few of the widest capitalletters, to a group of the narrowest small letters. All of the lettersof the font may be allocated to one or the other of these five groups.The present invention therefore involves a; variable spacing mechanismby which the travel of the carriage is automatically'regulated so thatit will advance, after actuation, of the type bar, a distancecorresponding to the width of type in the group in 80 which the letterjust printed is classified; the advance of the carriage after theprinting of one of the largest capital letters being, in thisembodiment, five times as great as the advance after the printing of oneof the smallest letters, the de- 35 sired spacing of the letters in theprinted line be-' ing thereby attained. Proper. justification of theprinted line is provided for by the sub-division of the usual spacingbar into five units and the connection of these separate units with thevari-, 40 able spacing mechanism in order to bring about U variablespacing between the words or letters;

this provision further increasing the ability of the operator to providetypewritten matter which is indistinguishable from printed matter.v Thepreferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision ofcertain modifica-' tions in the usual escapement mechanism, such ,aswill permit the conventional ratchet wheel or equivalent member torotate through predetermined angles under the influence of the mainspring or tensioning device for eifecting the travel of the carriage.These modifications include the provision of a pawl or detent device ofnovel construction, and also means for initiating and governing itsaction upon the depression of the keys. Separate electromagneticallycontrolled means are preferably provided to determine therespecpositioned so as to be closed by the actuation of the keys. Aseparate switch is preferably provided in conjunction with each key barand with each of the several space bars, and is connected with theparticular electrom agnetic limiting means which corresponds to thespacing required for the character printed or the blank space desired.

The switches are arranged in a plurality of banks or tiers beneath thekey bars and suitably mounted upon a movable member which can beadjusted by means of the carriage shifting mechanism to bring theappropriate bank of switches beneath the keys for determining the properspacing for either capital or small letters or the customary figures andsymbols invo1ved,in the bodiment of the invention is illustrated, but itwill beappreciated by one skilled in the art that without departure fromthe invention the design and arrangement of its various elements may bevery considerably modified, particularly in adapting the invention totypewriters of various makes and designs. It will be understood alsothat in the accompanying drawings, many conventional portions of atypewriter have been omitted in order that the novel features ofinvention may be more clearly illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a typewriter showing the frameand keyboard and illustrating certain elements of the variable spacingmechanism; I

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 ofFigural;

Figure 3 is a view similar toFigure 2 but more fragmentary and showing ashifted position of the switch bank and carriage shifting mechanism;

Figure 4 is a similar. view illustrating the adaptation of the inventionto a machine having a double shift keyboard;

' Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the typewriter illustrated in Figure 1showing the major elements of the carriage controlling mechanism;

, Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of the switchsupporting mechanism an adjacent parts of the keyhbars;

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing the 'circuits connecting the switchbanks with the escapement controlling electromagnets;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the operative connectionsbetween the escapement,

and both the key bars and spac'i g bars;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view n rear elevation and on an enlargedscale, of one fo of escape-- ment mechanism, showing the operatingniecha nisms in different positions from those which they occupy inFigure 5; y

Figure -10 is a view in side elevation of the escapement mechanism shownin Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows in disassembled relationship the several elements of thepawl which comprises part of the escapement mechanism shown' in Figure9; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 12- I2 ofFigure 9.

In the drawings, the frame of the typewriter is indicated generally bythe reference character l0, and this frame may be of any suitable orconventionalltype. The carriage of the machine 1 is indicated ratherdiagrammatically at II in Figure 5 of the drawings, the platen beingdesignated by the numeral 12 in this figure and also in Figures 1 and 2.It will, of course, be understood that the carriage is mounted, formovement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platenl2 and that, after the actuation of a type bar, the carriage will beadvanced in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 5 by any ordinary orusual tensioning device such as diagrammatically indicated at l3, thisdevice being connected to the carriage by means of a strap or tape l4.

' The keys are indicated at I 5 and they are operatively connected tothe type bars, one of which is indicated at IS in Figure 2, by means ofthe key bars I! and other conventional mechanism not shown. The typebars l6 carry at their outer ends the type l6 which, as alreadymentioned, are preferably of a design suitable for the simulation ofthe'typ graphy ordinarily effected by printing devices of differentkinds. It is essential, however, that each key bar be provided with adownwardly extending portion ll which is adapted to actuate theelectromagnetic controllingmeans for the variable escapement, thedetails of which will be later described. Space bars are indicated atl8, each of these space bars having a spacer key I 9 mounted upon itsouter end and having its inner end secured to the transverse shaft 20.The central spacer key I9 is longer than the other four and is mounteduponthe two central space bars l8 which move simultaneously when thecentral key I! is depressed.

One of the two shift keys is indicated at H and a shift key bar at 22,this key bar being mounted upon the transverse shaft 23 and having anextension 22' which is horizontally slotted to receive a pin 24 fixedupon a rocker member 25 rotatably supported on the shaft 25'. To therocker member 251s pivotally connected, as at 25',

to its dotted line position. It is by means of this shift mechanism thatthe platen is adjusted for the printing of capitals, small letters, andfigures in the customary manner. The shift mechanism thus described isof conventional type.

At the rear of the, machine is an escapement mechanism of the pawl andratchet type. one

embodiment, illustrated best in Figures 5, 9 and 10 ofthe drawings,being substantially the same as that disclosed in the above mentionedcopending case.

This escapement mechanism comprises the escapement ratchet wheel 3!,fixed ontheshaft'll,

- which shaft is operativelyconnected by the usual arrangement ,ofgearing to the typewriter carrlage H so that the ratchet I2 isconstantly urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow B by thecarriage advancing means. Associated .with the escapement ratchet 30 ismechanism for releasing the ratchet to permit it to rotate and henceprovide for the advancement of the carriage in the direction of thearrow A (Figure 5), and for stopping such rotation after a predeterminedangular travel, and thus halting the movement of the carriage.This'mechanism will.

now be described.

Mounted for free rotation on the shaft 3| is a member 32 having twoangularly disposed arms 32 and 32, the first of which carries at itsouter end a pawl 33 arranged in the plane of the ratchet wheel, and thesecond arm 32 having attached to its outer end one end of the spring 34,the opposite end of which is attached to a stationary portion of themachine such as the plate 10 by any suitable means as at 34, the springbeing normally in tension and tending to rotate the member 32 in acounterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 3|,

-or opposite to the direction in which theratchet wheel 30 rotates whenreleased. Rotatably mounted in a cylindrical aperture formed in the endof arm 32' is a stud 35 having an enlarged head 35' and a reduced axialportion 35 upon wheel, to abut the pin 4|] secured to the pawl carryingarm 32'. One end of the spring 39 is attached to arm 32 by means of.-pin4| and the other end connected to the head 35 of stud 35 at a pointspaced from the axis thereof, which stud, as has previously beenexplained, is rotatably mounted in arm 32'. The pawl 33 is provided witha projection 33' which is adapted to' strike a selected one of the stopdevices which will be later described. Y

An escapzment lever or pawl is indicated at 45, this le r being mountedfor rocking movement upo a pin 46 rigid with the frame. One end of le ercarries. a tooth 45' adapted to engage one or other of the teeth of theratchet wheel 30 an rotation. The escapement lever likewise carries anarm 45 the outer end of which is notched to receive a pin 41 carried bythe pawl 33, member 45 comprising means for disengaging pawl 33 fromratchet 30 when lever 45 is locked in a clockwise direction. Clockwisemovement of pawl carrying arm 32' is limited by the contact ofprojection 32 thereon with the stop pin 48.

The escapement lever 45 is actuated in a clockwise direction of rotationabout pivot 45 by mechanism which includes the multi-armed bell cranklever which is pivoted as at 5| to a fixed plate 52 suitably carried bythe frame of the typewriter. The arm 53 of the bell crank 50 projectsabove the adjustable contact pin 54 on the end of the pawl lever 45 andis adapted to abut therewith and move it downwardly upon the actuationof a key or a space bar. One form of mechanism which serves tooperatively connect the key bars and space bars with-this escapementactuating bell crank 53 is illustrated fragmentarily in Figure 8 of thedrawings. The precise details of this particular arrangement form noparticular part of the present invention and any equivalent operativeconnection obviously might be employed.

In this construction, however, there is secured to the transverserocking shaft III which carries the space bars IS, the crank arm 55 tothe outer end of which is pivotallysecured one end of the link 51. Themovements of this link may be end or the lock the ratchet wheel againstguided by any suitable mechanism not shown,

and the rear end thereof is formed with a hooked I portion 58 whichengages the outer end of the arm 59 of the bell crank 50, to form a lostmotion connection therewith. It will thus be seen that when any one ofthe spacer keys I!) is depr'essed, the crank 50 will be rotated in thedirection of the arrow C in Figure 8 and thus actuate the escapementmechanism; the distance the carriage is allowed to move upon suchactuation being governed by the variable spacing mechanism which willpresently be described.

Upon the actuation of a character key I5, the

type bar I6 will be moved toward the platen l2 and'during such movementthe cam 60 formed on the type bar IE will engage a ,portion of thearcuate member 6| of the sliding frame 62 adapted to move longitudinallyof the typewriter frame. This sliding frame 62 may be-guided in itssliding movement by any suitable means which may involve the upwardlyprojecting bracket 63 and pin 64. The sliding member 62 is provided witha rearwardly projecting portion 66 which is connected by means of link61 with the arm 69 of the bell crank 50. Thus, when any of the characterkeys is depressed, the corresponding type bar l6 will move the frame 62rearwardly and rotate the bell crank 50 in the direction of the arrow Cand initiate the operation of the escapement mechanism, the amount ofmovement being regulated by the variable Y spacing mechanism. When thelever arm 53' causes the lever 45 to rotate about its pivot 46, thedetent 45' of this lever will immediately engage one of the teeth of theescapement ratchet wheel 30, to' lock the same against rotation, the arm45 being at the same time swung away from the escapement ratchet andcarrying the pawl pin 41 with it to effect disengagement of the pawlfrom the ratchet.

A graduated stop mechanism is indicated generally by the referencecharacter S and is best illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings.This mechanism is preferably applied to the same plate 10 as is employedto support the ratchet escapement device. A casing or bracket H may beapplied to the rear face of this plate 10, as viewed in Figure 9, and aplurality of stop pins 15,

' 15 are supported by the plate and casing in face of the plate III inthe path of movement of the projection 33' on pawl 33. The remainingpins 15' are slidably mounted in openings through the plate Ill and therear supporting casing or frame H, are provided with shoulders or frames11 and are urged rearwardly by the expansive influence of the coilsprings 18 which surround the pins and are seated between the sleeves orshoulders I1 and the rear wall of the plate 10.

The rear ends 13 of the pins are adapted to normally project beyond therear wall of the frame H and the front ends of the movable pins areadapted to be disposed substantially flush with the outer surface of theplate 10. With all of the lower movable pins I5 in this normal retractedposition the rotation of the arm 32' in its counterclockwise directionafter the pawl is released from the ratchet wheel, will continue underthe influence of the spring 34 until the projecting ear 33' of pawl 33engages the, uppermost stationary pin 15, the spring 39 maintaining thetooth at the lower end of the pawl 33 out of contact with the teeth ofratchet 30 during such movement. As soon, however, as the stop engagingear 33' strikes the stop pin 15, which lies in its path, it will causethe pawl 33 to rock in a clockwise direction aroimd the axis of the stud35 and against the tension of spring 39 until its toothed end enters thespace between two of the ratchet teeth. This will effect the maximummovement of travel of the carriage permitted by the escapement. For theattainment of smaller increments of travel appropriate to the width ofnarrower letters or space, selected ones of the lower movable stop pinsI5 are projected from the face of the plate 10 into the path of the ear33' of pawl 33, and the actuation of the pawl will take place sooneraccording to the position of the selected pin along the arc.

The function of the spring 39, therefore, is to hold the pawl 33 .out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 30 until the extension 33 on the pawl33 strikes the stop pin. The extension 33 on pawl 33 moves against pin40 on the arm 33 under the action; of the spring 39, thus limiting theextent of movement of the pawl 33 so that the engaging end will justclear the teeth of the ratchet wheel during the upward swingof the arm32. The pin 48 acts as a stop pin for limiting the return or downwardswinging movement of the projection 32 on pawl carrying arm 32 of member32.

It is clear that by the projection of selected ones of the pins theangular travel of the pawlcarrying arm upon its release from the ratchetwheel, may be regulated. Inasmuch as the ratchet wheel and pawl movetogether upon the,

return stroke of the pawl, until the arm 32 carrying the pawl strikesthe stop pin 08, it is clear that the length .of the arc of upwardtravel of I the pawl determines the extent of angular rotation of theratchet wheel when the pawl returns to the initial position, thusdetermining the extent of advancing'movement of the carriage. Hence byproper selection of one of the five pins I5, I5 to be effective instopping the pawl, the carriage may be allowed to advance after aprinting operation, either one; two, three, four or five spaces.

For selectively projecting the movable pins 15, the following mechanismis provided. There is fulcrumed upon the shaft .80 carried by thebrackets 8'I secured to the rear face of the plate I0, a plurality oflevers 82, the upper ends of which are disposed adjacent the rearwardlyprojecting ends 19 of the four movablestop pins 15'. The lower' ends 83of these levers 82 are provided with armature portions which are adaptedto be attracted by the cores of the electromagnets 50 when said magnetsare energized. In order to permit, a relatively close spacing ofthe'levers 82, as by means of the sleeves BI, the electromagnets arestaggered, and the lower ends of the levers 82 are of alternatinglengths as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 9 of the drawings.

The electrical connections between these stop actuating magnets 90 andthe keys of the typewriter will now be 'described,together with thedetails of the novel switch arrangement adapted to be actuated by thekeys. Horizontal shafts 55 are secured, as by means of the brackets 96,to a portion 91 of the frame I0 of the typewriter. Slidably mounted uponthe shafts is the shiftable switch assembly designated generally by thereference numeral I00. This assembly will he seen to comprise anelongated transversely disposed, inverted, U-shaped member or block IOIwhich is provided with openings adapted to receive the shafts 05adjacent each end thereof. The block IN is therefore slidably carried bythe shafts 35 softhat the switch assembly I00 may be shifted for thepurpose to be later described. A casing I02 which is adapted to housecertain of the main conductors included in the electrical circuit iscarried by the member IOI and may comprise an inverted U-shaped memberI03 formed of fiber or other suitable insulated material and aninterposed sheet of insulating material I04 forming the bottom of thecasing I02. Within the casing I02 there are suitably disposed the fourconductors I05 which are respectively placed in communication with themagnets 00 as by means of the wires I06 shown in the diagram comprisingFigure 7 of the drawings. The other terminals of the magnets 00 are eachconnected with a source of current such as indicated at I 01 by means ofthe wires I08, the opposite battery terminal being connected with areturn conduit or suitable ground such as the frame of the typewriter.

Suitably secured to the top of the casing I02 of the switch assemblyI00, is the contact strip I08 which is made of spring metal and eithergrounded to a portion of the frame of the typewriter, or connected by areturn conductor to the remote terminal of the source of current I01.The contact strip I 08 is provided with a plurality of curved flexiblemembers II0'and IIO projecting from opposite sides thereof and eachdisposed approximately beneath and in the same vertical plane with a keybar projection II. The contacts IIO are also disposed above and suitablyspaced from the fixed contact points III which extend through the casingI 02 and are connected ,to suitable ones of the main conductors I05depending upon which of the stop pins I5 is to be projected to effectthe travel of the carriage corresponding to the width of the letterprinted by the selected key. Of course, the few capital letters whichrequire the maximum width of spacing need not be provided with the fixedcontacts since none of the movable stop pins are utilized in this case,dependence being placed on the final fixed pin to stop the pawl.

As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, one series of resilientcontacts IIO isdisposed heneath the row of actuating projections I'I'cartied by the keys and the corresponding fixed contacts III for each ofthese contacts IIO are connected to the appropriate conductor I05 by-means of the wires II3; all of these individual connections being basedupon the lower-case" or unshifted keyboard arrangement. In order toprovide the appropriate spacing for the keyboard arrangementcorresponding to the capitals, shifted characters or punctuation marks,provision is made for sliding the switch assembly I00 upon the guidingand supporting rods 95 until the row of flexible contacts designated II0 are disposed beneath the line of projections IT as clearly shown inFigure 3 of the drawings. Then the contacts 0' will be individuallydepressed according to the key which is selected and will close thecircuit throughthe fixed contacts III' which are.connected toappropriate ones of the conductors I05 by means of the wires 3'; theseconnections all being arranged in accordance with the proper widths ofthe capital letters and punctuation marks which are brought into use bydepressing the shift key 2| 10 of the typewriter as at Sand the upperarm of the pawl controlling the release of the esca'pethe bell crank NB.This bell'crank' H8 is fulcrumed to, a suitable fixedportion of theframe I20 thereof is provided with a slot l2! within which a pin I22carried by the vertically movable carriage shifting member 26' isadapted to move. Obviously, when the member 26 is lifted by means of thedepression of the shift key 2| ,in order to raise the carriage rail 21,as shown in Figure 3, the bell crank H8, 120 is rocked in a clockwisedirection from its position shown in Figure 2 to the shifted positionillustrated in Figure 3. Thus there is provided means for actuating theproper limiting stop pin 15' which determines the amount of release ofthe escapement mechanism, in accordance with thewidths of both thelower-case characters and the capitals. 1

The space bars 18 are also provided with depending projections such asindicated in con'nec tion with the key bars at H and four of these spacebars may be adapted to actuate appropriate-contacts H0, III in order toregulate the width of the blank spaces in the same way as .the width ofthe type is regulated.- Obviously the space bars will actuate contactsconnected. to the same magnet in either the shifted or unshiftedposition; and the space bar intended for the actuation of the carriagefor the maximum travel will not be provided with electrical connectionsto a magnet.

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is illustrated an arrangement foradapting the invention to a double shift typewriter. carriage will belifted to one of two different heights and the element 26 will becapable of being disposed in three different positions instead of two asshown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The same type of connectioncan be disposed between the switch block 100 and the member 26 exceptthat the switch block or assembly will in this case be capable ofadjustment to and from three different positions. Also, an additionalrow of pairs of contacts indicated at H and III will be provided and thecontacts III will be connected with the appropriate main conductors 505by means of the wires H3. The lower-case position of the switch assemblyI00 is shown in Figure 4 in full lines and is indicated by the referencecharacter I. The two shifted positions of the assembly, wherein thecontacts H0 and H0 are respectively brought beneath the key projectionsII are indicated by the fragmentary broken lines designated II, III..

Thus it will be seen, that the electrical actuation of the variablespacing mechanism may be readily adapted to a double shift typewriter.

As a specific example of the operation of theinvention, it may beexplained that whenever the key representing the small letter 1" isdepressed,

the projection I'I' carried bythe key bar will cause its flexiblecontact H0 to contact with the fixed contact II! which is connectedby-means of the wires 3 with that one of the main conductors I05 whichis connected to the magnet 90, controlling the projection of thelowermost pin 15' which permits the least amount of travel In suchmachines the adapted to be ment ratchet 30. However, if the switchassembly I00 isshifted by the mechanism already described, upon thedepression of the shift key 2|, and the key designated by the capital W.is depressed, no actuation of a movable pin ,15' is eifected and thepawl will travel through its arc of movement until stopped'by the lastfixed pin 15 and thus effect the maximum travel of I 1 the carriage.

It is obvious that all of the pins including the pin '15 could be mademovable and projected.

from the plate by means of magnets, but this would entail the provisionof an additional magnet and additional connections to the keys. It isalso obvious that more or less than the five different widths of spacingcould be employed by using an appropriately greater number of stop pins,magnets and conductors.

The mechanism is entirely automatic in character and the typewriter maybe operated rapidly to produce typewritten matter indistinguishable fromprinted matter insofar as spacing of the letters is concerned. Thistypewritten matter is entirely suitable for use in the method ofprinting commonlyknown as offset printing and V involving a photographicstep. It also presents a superior appearance when used for this or anyother purpose.

It will be further understood that various other changes in the designand arrangement of the embodiments illustrated and described herein, asfor example, in adapting the invention to typewriters of various makes,maybe made with out departing from the scope of the invention as definedin the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A typewriter of the class described including the usual keys keybars, and shift mechanism, a'

carriage, means for advancing the carriage, and means for controllingthe forward movement of the carriage, said means including a graduatedstop mechanism, electromagnetic means for actuating said stop mechanism,a source of current for energizing said electromagnetic means, anelectric circuit making and breaking means operated by movement of saidkeys to energize said electroemagnetic means in order to actuate saidstop mechanism, and means adapted to be actuated by operation of theshift mechanism to upper case position to adjust the circuit making andbreaking means so as to prepare the same for efiecting a differentactuation of the stop mechanism by the movement of said keys, when saidshift mechanism is operated than when the typewriter is. set for lowercase operation.

2. A typewriter of the class described including the usual keys, keybars, and shift mechanism, a carriage, means for advancing the carriage,and means for controlling the forward movement of the carriage, saidcontrolling means including netic means associated with each of saidstop means and said source of switches operable by each of said keys andcontrolling said circuits, andzmeans actuated by the 10' devices toactuate them, a'source of current, elecy tric circuits connecting saidelectromagneticcurrent, a plurality of shift mechanism for determiningwhich switch will be actuated by said key, whereby the stop elementappropriate to the lower case and capital characters, represented by theselected keys may be selectively actuated.

3. A typewriter of the class described including the usual .keys, keybars, and shift mechanism, a carriage, means for advancing the carriage,andmeans for controlling theforward movement of the carriage,electrically operated means for regulating the distance of movement ofthe carriage appropriate to the width of the character printed, a pairof switches movably disposed adjacent each of the keys, and each adaptedto close an electric circuit through the electrically operated means todetermine the movement of the carriage corresponding to the width of thelower case and capital characters capable of being printed bymanipulation of said respective keys, and means actuated by the shiftmechanism to bring one or the other of said switches of each of saidpairs into operative relation with said keys. I

4. A typewriter of the class described including a keyboard comprisingthe usual keys and key bars, a carriage, shift mechanism, means foradvancing the carriage, and electrically actuated means for controllingthe amount of forward movement of the carriage in accordance' with thewidths of the characters printed, a plurality of electric circuitsplacing said means in connection with a sopr'ce or current, a movableswitch block disposed beneath said keys and provided with a plurality ofbanks of switches for controllingsaid respective circuits, each of theswitches of 'one bank being disposed belowand adapted to be actuated byone of the keys'of the typewriter during one position of the shiftmechanism, and means for moving said block so that another bank ofswitches is brought into operative relation to said keys upon actuationoithe shift mechanism from said position. 1

5. In combination with a typewriter of the class described, a keyboardcomprising a plurality of keys and key bars, a carriage, shift .tance,electromagnetic means associated mechanism, means for advancing thecarriage, an electrically actuated means for controlling the amount offorward movement of the carriage in accordance with the widths of thecharacters printed, a plurality of electric circuits placing said meansin connection with a 'source of cur rent, a projection on each of saidkeys, said projections being disposed in a straight line, an electricswitch block horizontally slidably disposed beneath said keyboard, aplurality of rows of switches carried by said block for controlling saidriage, means for controlling the forward movement or the carriage, aplurality of stop devices,

the carriage to a difierent predetermined d' th each of said'stopdevices to actuate them, a source of current, electric circuitsconnecting said electromagnetic means and said ,source of current, ashittable switch block disposed beneath the keys, a plurality of rows ofswitches carried by saidblock, the switches of one row adapted to berespectively actuated by the keys Y when the typewriter carriage shiftmechanism is not actuated, the switches of another row adapted to beactuated by the keys when the shift mechanism is actuated, a pluralityof conductors carried by said switch block and respectively connectedwith said electromagnetic means, and means connecting one contact ofeach oi'said switches with that one of said conductors which isconnected to the electromagnetic means which limits the carriage travelto the distance corresponding to the letter printed by the keyassociated with said switch.

' ROSWELL S. REID.

each operable to limit the forward movement o t

